DavidRawlins wrote:I think that almost anyone who came into contact with Uncle (Kirby) was christened with a nickname by him. I am surprised that this has not been mentioned, maybe he gave up after I left.

The (I hope) immortal Chips Ryder also used to give nicknames to most of the boys in his class.

I remember that Tom Hare-Duke was thus 'Rare Spook' for 40 minutes at a time and Russell Bravo was 'Brillo Pad'. Whether his nicknames for non-white pupils were of the politically correct variety, I have no recollection. Let's hope so.

Pop Beaven's surname was spelt thus. As he always used to say: 'Beaven is to heaven as bell is to hell."

Seaman's nickname 'Milt' suddenly appeared in 1963. Before that he was universally known (to the boys) as 'Clarence'. 'Milt' certainly was due to Milt Jackson of the MJQ, who were making it big at the time. Seaman's initials CME stood for Clarence Milton Edwards. His friends and family called him 'George' (which is also on the back of his headstone in Itchingfield churchyard). This derived from Richard III Act I Scene I

GLOUCESTER
Brother, good day; what means this armed guard
That waits upon your grace?
CLARENCE
His majesty
Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed
This conduct to convey me to the Tower.
GLOUCESTER
Upon what cause?
CLARENCE
Because my name is George.